Breast cancer

You cannot control some things that put you at risk for breast cancer, such as your gender and age. However, you can change other risk factors to stay as healthy as possible. These include:

• Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Having regular exams and mammograms
• Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Making exercise a routine part of your life

Schedule a mammogram

As part of our commitment to providing advanced breast health services, we offer mammogram screening services at three locations. For assistance scheduling your screening or diagnostic mammogram, please call (888) 858-9936.

It's essential to be aware of the symptoms of breast cancer so you can seek medical attention for further testing. Symptoms of breast cancer can include:

• A change in the way the breast feels (the most common symptom is a painless lump or thickening in the breast or underarm)
• A change in the way the breast looks (the skin on the breast may dimple or look like an orange peel or the size and shape of the breast may change)
• A change in the nipple (it may turn in, or the skin around it may look scaly)
• Fluid that drains from the nipple

You will most likely undergo a surgical procedure to remove cancer. You might also undergo chemotherapy or hormone therapy before surgery to help shrink the tumor. Our surgeon may remove some of the lymph nodes under your arm to determine if the cancer has spread to this area.

Depending on the cancer stage, your doctor may recommend different options. The first is breast-conserving surgery, called a lumpectomy, to remove just the cancer from the breast. Typically, you undergo several weeks of radiation after surgery.

In more severe cases, we recommend a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove the breast. If you have a mastectomy, you can have an operation to create a new breast, often at the same time. Radiation may or may not be needed after a mastectomy.

To learn more about our breast cancer services, please call (843) 692-1969.

Determine what treatment is best for you

Historically, breast cancer meant having your breast removed. This is no longer true. Studies show that with early-stage cancer, breast-conserving surgery can be as effective as a mastectomy. You and your doctor will decide which group of treatments is right for you.

Learning that you have breast cancer can cause a range of feelings, from sadness and fear to anger and despair. Tell your doctor if your emotions make it hard to move forward with treatment. You may benefit from counseling or a support group. Talking with others who have faced the same choices can greatly help.